Wilkinson



C. P. WILKINSON.

LIQUID INDICATING GAGE.4

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 30. |915. K

1,1 93,744. l Patented Aug. 8,1916.

Ana

omit moyfonoerm f y lmoxvnthat-I CHARLES aP. WILKIN- lazen' of the naed statemesiding l ',f vaeksn,lin the 'countylof Jackson and y e' of Michiganw'have invented .certain A useful yI*riaprevements in Liquld-` g. Gra-(res, yof which the, following is.`

D as'pe ffication.,i,...f w lfTh 'sent invention ,relates-in, general 161m liqmd gages, and more particularly. to4

water y fgages .for ,indicating Ithe height .of

" v"in floeomotive tenders, .Usually there i ans proi'ided]whereby` the engine-` ,fknow atall times` the depth of theq lfwter 'in thejtarlk `O:E.the tender .Withput cl'iiiibing'ifen'the `coalr and measuring throiighithe ,manholefas on; upto .date .ten-4 der theivalter,'tanlnisggenerally situated be` l, t, thefrear'of jthe. c0al b0X,jand

li" :.moreathe bottom'othe, tank is con.- belowltheioot plateoflthegengine and the,`tender. .To y[ascer tain the depthof the'wivatle fie ,therefore not@ 0nly,.dangerous, but'ieify inconvenierliliiV y ,l heradvantagef, myl deviceis that theg lec'anfbereadlflatyany tiinewhen nec. essal Y, This ,device however, may be used .4. forfetbf uripses. .fee .meeall'ngi the. depth of f fiuid o'f'f any kind. ',Whioh. is,` contained inv l iitherfaldyalitage',ofthepresenta inven-= Y tion that the gage is selfcontained `and cani-be vappliedinyiany tank,t ,and for any depth required. f gifj Many trunk lines arenow. Eequippedwitli tra-,ck "tanks, "so that Water may be taken, Whilethe train'is inqnotion.. There is now nofwayfpfftelling just hou' much faterhas beenftake lunless it runs over the top of; 4Q'.;tl1e].tank.f Noti 'f i1iy"il1 `jliczfitor.'isnsed, the

"enginenieii-kno iylienl to stop fill-pA ing-the tank" it Iutwasting',Water Io r Ilet#` tingi itunioi x On*the"otlher; hand, it' all' ways-ji',fealises'fthe giiieihen great anxiety are' running 'short Appiicaon mea october so,

carried, tthezupper one 17 being provided new "be"v guarded i. f

'the pipe 1,1,.Which otherwise might happen in the. event'of anysurging of the Water,. 'this alWay OFFICE. I i Lf. rnnnwrrikmson, orJAciisoN, introiti@mitl A" LrQUiD-iNpioATiNeeAGE. i

Patented Aug.s,1916. 1915. serial No. 58,845.

asection on line8-.3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a bottom plan viert'v of the upper ioat, and Fig. 5,a` top planr'vievv of the lower float. In thetank 10 lfor Water or other fluid, is

secured an upright pipe 11l reaching from 60 r the bottom of the tank and extending through itstop Where it is rigidly held in the packing box 12. The upper free end of y the pipe 11 vis covered by a cap 15 attached by means of screws or other suitable connectingmeans. This cap supports theouter tubular casing"13. extending upward fait :enough to. be convenient for readingv the gage andthe upper end of the casing 13 elosedby ,meansof alcap 14.. 'y

\ Beneath'the cap 15, andgextending down-I Wardlyv inthe .pipe 11 is situateda cone shaped guide 16. vThis has, an upper annulariange resting on th'e-end of the pipe so -as to be held in position by th'e cap and 75 is preferably provided With a packing ring. Inside the pipe 11, two floats 17 and 20 are with aitubular l.rod 18 extending upward ,through the guide 16. This tubular rod 18 80 ,is of,such, a lengththat When thefloat 17 stands in its uppermost position just 'beneaththe guide ,16, the upper end of the rod reaches, the top o thescalel of the gage Whiehfvvill be describedfarther on. On the top'of the float 17- is secured a conical sleeve 19 seated on the float `and tightly inclosing` the 'tubular Arod: 1S, and beneath .the cone y shaped guide 16 is riveted or secured in any other ysuitable manner a rubber or leathereo packing 25 having the sameouter diameter as the'inner diameter of the pipe 11, yand being provifledwith a ycentral opening of approximately the samediameter as the outer diameter Aof the tubulanrod18.'A vThen 95 the upper loatis in. the l'position shown in E ig. .2, the eonical sleeve 19. has entered the openingfin `the packingQ so as to c0m.4v pletely close the upper end of the pipe 11 in order to prevent any Water from the `tank 100 fronrsloppig out through the upper end of s 4taking V place when th the train are applied.

The lower. yfloat 20 vis similar in construetion to the upper one, but is suspended' on a e brakes on j smaller rod 21, telescoping into the tubular rod '18 and extending through the latter so that the upper end of the scale on the gage registers with the index pointyongthe rod when both lioats stand at their high-est position as indicated in Fig. 2.

In order to protect. the loatsfroni wear ing and also to have guides for the floats in the pipe l1, chating plates 22 are provided on the cylindrical sides of the tloats. These plates are preferably made from wire attached to the sides ot' the floats. It has been found by the use of these chating plates that the device isinucli iiioi'e long lived. The)1 prevent the wearing away ot the floats and the pipe, and also prevent all air suction which otherwise might seriously interfere with the et sy working and correct indicatingof the gage. To protect the ends of the floats, l also provide a ring 24 on the under side of the upper tioat and a nuniber ot` radial short pieces 28 on the top ot' the lower tioat so that when the two floats are close together there will still be a space between their adjacent ends. p

On the upper end of the tubular rod 1S is secured a star-shaped index carrier 26 which is held in position by means of three set screws 30. lt is provided with an index 2T which extends through a longitudinal opening 3Q in the casing 13. At the upper end of the bar 2l is attached in a similar manner by set screws 3l another star-shaped index carrier 2S provided with an index 29 also extending through the longitudinal opening 32 in the casing 13. The set screws 8() and 31 also serve as guides for the tubular rod 1S and the bar 21 on the rising and sinking of the floats.

In order to read the gage, the scale plate 33, preterably a casting, is secured on the casing 13 by means ot' a pair of U bolts 34 as best seen in Fig. 3. This scale plate is provided with two longitudinal slots 35 and 3G, ot' which the one 35 is intended forthe index 2i' and the slot Gili for the lower float index 2S). Adjacent to the slots and positioned so as to register with the index points are provided two reading scales 37 and At the lower end ot the pipe 1l are provided aperturesI Pif) so that the inside o'l the pipe communicates,with the tank and thc surrounding water will Ialways rise at the same height as in the tank.

'lo prevent any shocks caused by surging ol the water a spring' -lll is placed around 'the tubular rod 1S and is iliade to rest on the bottoni oi' the socket provided in the guide llo, so that whenever the. upper lloat drops down suddenly` or when it is at the end ol ils downward movement, the. iqqierdloatwill be suspended trout the spring lll. Similarly a spring -ll is provided between the cap l-l and the upperend ol' the bar 21 in order to minimize all shocks in the upward direction ol the lloats. This, however. will correct itself during steadv running ol.' the locomotive. i

It will benoted that the surging of the "water in `the tank wi1l, however, have very slight eltect on the water level in the pipe l1. On account ot' the sudden stopping of' the train when the water in the tank is thrown in one direction, the small holes 39 will not pei'iiiit of any sudden increase or decrease in the quantity of the water inside the pipe 1l, so that beyond a slight shaking otl the index point no great difference will be shown in the gage. and 38 arecontinuous, that is, the scale 38 commences with the lowest denomination at the bottoni indicating at the top approximately halt the depth ot' the tank and the scale 3T continues from there with its lowest reading at the hottoin and the highest at the top. Supposing the tank takes six feet ot' water, the scale 3S would then be graduated t'roni zero up to about three feet, and the scale 37 from three teet to six feet. lt is evident that. it the tanks are exceptionally deep, instead of `only two loats, three or nioieniight be used, which are all telescopic and working continuously. In the, case of very shallow tanks again, one fioat might,besulieient V lVhen thetank is entirely filled, the tWo indexes 27, QS) stand as shown in lligx 2, that is, with the upper float at the top of pipe l11 and the `lower lioat about midway down in the tank, or 'in other words, at a distance below the upper float,.corresponding to the length ot permissible travel of the upper float. As soon as the water-level begins to descend, the upper float t'alls until the index The two 'scales 37 2T is at the. bottoni ot' scale 37 and the index i `this position, the lower lloat with its index 29. begins its downward travel which it continiles until it reaches the lower end ot the pipe l1 and the tank is empty.

1. gage t'or liquids comprising a tubinserted in a vertical position in the liquid and provided with apertures at its lower end. a plurality of floats in the tube. being guided therein so as to permit ireeair passage between the bodies ot' the floats and the tube. a. rod attached to each oneot said lioats and extending in one direction therefrom through the tube parallel. to its axis, a guide box at that end ot' the tube for the rods, a pointer on the end ol' each rod and scales being provided on said guidi` box on which said pointers are adapli-d to imlicate rml. a tloat in the tube. being guided therein so as to permit tree air passage between the body ol [he lloat and the tube, a rod eentrally attacli'ed to thei'oiie endiof theloat' and extending axially through the upper end of said tube, a guidebox at the upper end of the tube for the rod, a conical sleeve on said rod and flexible packing in the guide box having a central opening, said conical sleeve constructed to completely lill .said opening so as to seal it when the floatis in its uppermost fposition in the tube, and

' most float extending beyond the upper end of the rod ofthe lloat next in order, each rod being provided with a pointer at its upper free end and a Scale for each of said pointers being provided on said guide boxes.

4. A gage for liquids, comprising a tube inserted in a Vertical position inthe liquid and provided with apertures at its lower end, a plurality of floats inserted in said tube one above the other, each of said floats having an axially positioned rod extending upward through the upper end of said tube, said rods being constructedl to telescope with each other, the rod for the lowerniost, float extending beyond the upper end of the rod of the float nextin order, each rod being provided with a pointer at its upper free end and a scale for eachof said pointers being provided on said guide box, said scales being graduated to form continuous reading from zero upward commencing-with. the scale for the pointer of the-lmverinost float.

5. A gage for liquids, comprising a tube inserted in a. vertical position in the liquid and provided sith apertures at its .lower cnd, a plurality of floats iiiseited in said tube one above the other, cach -of said floats having an axially positioned rod extending upward through the upper cnilof said tube.

said rods being constructed te telescope with each other, the rod for a lower float extendingbeyond the upper end of the rod of the float next above it, cach rod being provided l with a pointer at its upper free end and a scalo for cach of said pointers being pro-- vided on said guide box, a cushioning device in said guide box and an al'iutnieiit on the rod of the uppermost lloat for coperating with said cushioning device when the uppei-most float is in its lowest position.l

(3. A gage for liquids, `comprising a tubeA inserted in a vertical position in the liquid and provided with apertures at its lower end, a plurality of floats in Said tube one above the other, each saidloats an rxi-y ally, .positiened rodi; extending upwardthrough the' 'upper Aend 'fof' said tube, l"said f lrods being constructedtotelscope eacha j other, v.the rody forfal lw'e'r' floa't extending ,be-V

lindrical shell placed coaxially Xanthia-nd .next above it, "saidfguidekboxfhayfig ing the rods, `each .rod havinga `pointer 21nd,;

said shellbeing 4pr ovijdevdtwit l .each of the pointersri '1' f A gage for liquidsfeoinp inserted in .a vertical'positioiijiii'lthe{liquid'3 and provided .with apertures aty its, lo'mei'??en d,`."py a plurality of floats insertedinsaid tubeone ,l above .the other, yeach of .saidfdloats ghaviiigp an axially positioned rod extending upward through ythe upperwend ,I of said..` tube, said.,-

rods being constructed to telescope withv each other, the'rod .for a lower float extending beyond the upper end ofthe rod of the float next above it, said guide box having a cylindrical shell placed vcoaxi'ally with and above said tube, radial members on each vof the rods contacting with said shell for guiding the rods, each rod having apointer and Said shell being provided with a scale for each of the pointers, a cushioning device at the upper end of said shell and an abutment p von the rod of the lowermost float for copL erating with said cushioning device.

8. A gage for liquids',.comprising a tube inserted in a vertical position in the liquid and provided with apertures at its lower end, a plurality of oats inserted in said tube one above the other, a plurality of lguiding projections on each float permitting free air passage between the body of the float and the tube, and ridges on the adjacent faces of the floats permitting an air 'passage between them, each of said floats having anaxially positioned rod extending upward through `the upper end of said tube, Said rods being constructed to telescope with each other, the rod for the lowermost float extending beyond the upper end of the rod of the float next .in order, each rod being provided with a pointer at its upper free end yand a scale for each of said -pointers being provided on said guide box. y l

9. A gage for liquids, comprising a tube inserted in a vertical position' in the liquid and provided with apertures at its lower end, a plurality of floats inserted in said tube one above the other, a plurality of guiding progections on each float permitting 4free air lpassage between the body of the float and the tube, and ridges .on the adjacent faces of the iloats permitting an air passage between. them, the ridges on one of said faces being annular and on the opposite face radial, each of said floats having an axially positioned' rod extending upward through the upper 13o.

end of said tube, said rods being constructed to telescope with each other, the rod for the lowermost fioat extending beyond the upper end of the rod of the fioat next in order, each rod being provided with a pointer at its up- 4 per free end `and a scale for each of said pointers being provided on said guide box.

l0. A water gage for a tank comprising a vertical tube standing on the bottom of the tank and reaching above its top, and provided with apertures at its lower end, a pair of floats in said tube, a tubular rod on the upper one of said floats extending in axial direction beyond the top of said tube, a guiding shell extending. laxially upward from said tube and a collar with radial projections on said tubular rod engaging with said shell to guide said tubular rod, an abutment in said shell beneath said collar providing a Copies of this patent may be obtained for stop on the downward movement of said upper float, said tubular rod bemgo such a lenvth that the lowermost position of the upper float will be approximately half way `between the top and bottom of the tank, a

central rod on said lower float constructed to telescope with said tubular rod and eX-` tend beyond the upper end thereof and having such a length that the lower iioat reaches the bottom of the tank when the tank is empty, a collar on the free end of said central rod having radial projections engaging with said shell to guide said central rod,

CHARLES PERRY WILKINSON.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

